water and sparks

DJ · Post by DJ » Wed Mar 31, 2004 10:58 pm

Hi all

Can someone help?How do you stop water from entring the electrics? Water gets in the spark plug recesses in the head shortening out the spark. The motor is a dohc and the plug leads are sealed with silacon grease. The dist cap is also sealed with silacon and doesnt let water inside but still managers to short out the leads on the outside of the cap. The dist has a splash guard and every has been sprayed wiyh CRC Soft Seal. (No I dont want to buy a diesel and yes I still want to drive thru water and mud holes)
Anyone got any ideas or what has worked for you??
thanks in advance DJ

Athalus78 · Post by **Athalus78** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:48 am

I've never had a problem like yours and I'm running a modified leyland 4.4. the only problem I have is that the dissy gets wet inside but the rest is electronic ignition from MSD and 10mm proracing leads. My first question would be what year is the engine?. Second would be how well sealed is the thread of the plugs?,(do you have those helicoil rethreads) And third is how deep is the recess for the plugs? Can the water work its way up the plug cap to get level with the water in the recess. I know that most modern injected petrol engines just plain hate water so I think it will be a case of diagnose,rectify,test, until it all goes well.
Good luck

DJ · Post by DJ » Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:33 am

Hi answer to questions
A) motor is a toyota 2.8 dohc 1983 - 1987 (5mgetu) fuel injected electronic ingition
B)the spark plugs are set into long receses between the cam covers appox 50mm deep this forms a good water collection area around the OUTSIDE of the plugs the water can not drain away as per a V8 therefore drowning the plugs, water is not leaking into the combustion chamber.(combustion would blow the water out)
yep have diagnosed the problem just having problems fixing it
thax
cheers

Rangerat · Post by **Rangerat** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 10:08 am

Gidday

Idea (dumb or otherwise)
Is it possable to make up a cover that can be bolted/screwed and sealed, to the cam covers. As seen on a lot of DOHC engines. (for example, Mitsi 2ltr as in the galant)

Just thinking

Rat

Bodge · Post by **Bodge** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:06 am

That would be the way to go Rat.

Go to pick a part! There are an amazing variety of plug lead covers - the ones in my Nissan have a rubber flange that sits on top of the head so the water cannot run down inside the recesses. They require a major yank to get off due to the suction...

Also chaeck out motorcycle plug lead covers - they have been dealing with the problems since before 4WD was invented...

Athalus78 · Post by **Athalus78** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:39 am

So I might be right the water is so deep in the recess that it is workinf up the plugs to the sparkers. I agree that some form of cover for the plugs would be of a great help. Is'nt the 5m an early supra motor?